The 11 Best Sea Salt Sprays

I’ve always wanted that perfectly messy, “I just left the beach” hair, but my actual post-beach hair is usually a tangled, salty mess. So I went looking for a good beach wave spray to fake it. The goal is always the same: tousled waves, a bit of grit, and volume that looks effortless.

A good sea salt spray can give your hair that piecey, textured look without the crunchiness of old-school hairspray. They work by adding a bit of grit and hold, encouraging your natural wave pattern to come out. But not all of them are created equal.

I tried a bunch of them—some dried my hair out, others felt sticky, and a few were just right. Here are the ones that actually delivered on the promise of effortless, beachy hair.

 

 

Our Top Sea Salt Sprays

Oribe Après Beach Wave and Shine Spray

At $46, this one’s a splurge, but it feels like it. The first thing you’ll notice is the scent—it smells absolutely incredible, like a high-end perfume. It’s perfect for anyone who wants those beachy waves but doesn’t want to sacrifice moisture.

Unlike a lot of salt sprays that can be drying, this one is super hydrating and leaves a nice shine. It gives my hair a realistic, just-out-of-the-ocean texture with a light, touchable hold. It also has UV and heat protection built right in, which is a huge plus.

The Downside: The gorgeous, light hold doesn’t always last all day, so you might need a touch-up.

 

 

Pete & Pedro SALT Sea Salt Spray

This spray costs $22 and is a lifesaver for my friends with fine hair. It adds a ton of volume and texture without feeling stiff or crunchy at all. Your hair still feels soft and totally touchable.

It’s alcohol-free and uses sea kelp to hydrate, so your hair actually feels conditioned after using it. I was impressed with how easily it washed out, leaving no residue behind. It just gives you a natural, fuller look.

The Downside: It provides a pretty light hold, so it’s more for texture and volume than for locking a style in place.

 

 

Bumble and Bumble Surf Sea Salt Spray

For $35, you can get one of the original sea salt sprays, and it’s still a classic for a reason. This stuff gives you that perfect wind-styled, matte texture. It’s the real deal if you want hair that looks like you spent the day surfing.

It’s especially good for adding volume at the roots on fine to medium hair. Just a few spritzes give my hair some serious body without weighing it down. It’s my go-to when I want that authentic, gritty beach feel.

The Downside: It’s easy to go overboard. If you use too much, it can definitely feel heavy and crunchy.

 

 

Not Your Mother’s Beach Babe Texturizing Sea Salt Spray

You can’t beat the price on this one—it’s only $8. It’s fantastic for creating tousled, beachy curls on my straight hair without any of that sticky feeling. The finish is surprisingly soft and grit-free.

It’s formulated with sea kelp and dead sea salt, so it actually feels hydrating instead of drying. Plus, it has UV protection, which is awesome for a drugstore find. It really works.

The Downside: The coconut scent is very tropical and strong. If you’re not a fan of that, you might want to skip it.

 

 

Beauty by Earth Sea Salt Spray

For $20, this is a great choice if you’re looking for natural ingredients. It gives you those beachy waves without any crunch, and people always compliment the smell when I wear it.

I was really impressed with the quality of the ingredients. It gave my hair noticeable volume and texture, and it seems to work well on a bunch of different hair types, from straight to wavy.

The Downside: While many people love the fragrance, it can be a bit overpowering if you’re sensitive to scents.

 

 

Ouai Texturizing Wave Spray

This spray from Ouai is $30 and it’s a little different—it’s actually salt-free. I recommend this for anyone with dry or very straight hair who finds traditional salt sprays too drying.

Instead of grit, it uses rice protein to add texture, so it leaves your hair feeling soft and shiny, never sticky. It’s amazing for getting that “I woke up like this” look. It enhances waves without any crunch and offers UV protection.

The Downside: Because it’s salt-free, you don’t get that classic gritty texture that some people are looking for.

 

 

Sun Bum Texturizing Sea Spray

At $20, this spray just screams summer. It has that signature Sun Bum scent that instantly makes you think of the beach. It’s formulated with Hawaiian black salt and sea kelp, giving great texture.

It does a great job of blocking humidity, which is a must for me. It adds waves and volume with a really lightweight feel, and it’s another one that offers UV protection. My straight hair gets a nice, natural-looking wave from it.

The Downside: The scent is amazing, but it definitely lingers all day long.

 

 

Kitsch Texturizing Sea Salt Spray

This one costs $15 and it’s a dream for enhancing natural waves and curls. It doesn’t make hair stiff at all; it just adds some volume and definition while taming frizz.

I loved how cleanly this spray washed out, with no build-up. It has a really pleasant, clean scent once it’s in your hair and gives your natural texture a little boost.

The Downside: The scent is pretty strong right when you spray it from the bottle, but it does mellow out.

 

 

L’Ange Salt + Sea Texturizing Spray

For $20, this spray is all about getting that beachy look without any crunch. It leaves hair feeling super silky and soft to the touch. It uses sea salt and kelp extract to strengthen hair while it styles.

It’s packed with antioxidants and has UV absorbers, too. I found it gave my hair a really nice, piecey texture without any residue. Just a soft, beachy style.

The Downside: The bottle is on the smaller side, so you might go through it quickly.

 

 

Toni & Guy Sea Salt Texturising Spray

This spray is a bargain at $15 and works on all hair types. It gives you that perfectly “lived-in” texture and body for a relaxed beach look. The mist is super fine and distributes evenly.

It provides a light, workable hold that isn’t stiff. This one feels like a professional product you’d find in a salon, but at a much better price point. It’s a solid, reliable choice.

The Downside: The hold is light, so you may need to layer it or use a finishing spray for more staying power.

 

 

What to Look For in a Sea Salt Spray

The biggest thing to look for is a balance of texture and moisture. Some sprays are super drying because of salt and alcohol. I always look for formulas that include hydrating ingredients like sea kelp, aloe, or different oils to counteract that.

Also, think about the finish you want. Do you want a matte, gritty look or something softer with a bit of shine? The product descriptions usually give you a good idea of what to expect. At the end of the day, there’s a spray out there for every hair type and budget.